"You stay bought into it when you see your opponent sucking air and physically failing, and you're still fit and ready, and you know you own his ass."-Former Bama LB Cory Reamer on Coach Cochran's training program

New England cut the 24th pick of the 2007 draft, safety Brandon Meriweather, and added free-agent Pro Bowl guard, Brian Waters. You know what says it all about Brandon Meriweather? That there was more interest over the last few days in signing James Sanders when Bill Belichick let him go (Atlanta won out over Kansas City) than there was in dealing for a two-time Pro Bowl safety with a reasonable 2011 salary ($1.65 million).

Meriweather twice back-doored the phony-baloney Pro Bowl by making it as an alternate. Emboldened by thinking he'd arrived, he never worked like he should have to be a great player. The difference between Rodney Harrison and Meriweather? Harrison worked every day like he was trying to be great; Meriweather thought he was great before he really was.

By the way, kudos to Belichick for letting Sanders walk last Monday, when he had time to catch on with a team and have some extra time to learn the defense well enough to play opening day.

Pats opening tonight and its crickets around here? I'm looking forward to finally being able to watch the Pats play for real. Some good games yesterday, a few big surprises, I hope we don't see more this p.m.

"You stay bought into it when you see your opponent sucking air and physically failing, and you're still fit and ready, and you know you own his ass."-Former Bama LB Cory Reamer on Coach Cochran's training program